MacNaughton says he’s pushing for quick NAFTA resolution

United States Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft and Ambassador of Canada to the United States David MacNaughton take part in a panel discussion during the Canadian Energy Industry Updates and Insights conference in Ottawa on Monday, February 5, 2018. iPolitics/Matthew Usherwood

David MacNaughton, Canada’s ambassador to the United States, says he’s urging the U.S., Mexico and Canada to reach a deal on NAFTA over the next two months.

“I’m pressing our government, the Mexicans and the United States negotiators as hard as I can and encouraging everyone to see if we can’t work over the next two months to get some resolution to our NAFTA discussions,” MacNaughton said Monday at the annual Energy Industry Updates and Insights conference in Ottawa. “The time of rhetoric has probably passed us.”

The diplomat added that it’s time to put aside uncertainty and “get on with building the most competitive relationship in the world.”

“By standing still we will fall behind,” he said.

MacNaughton, who spoke alongside his American counterpart, Kelly Craft, said the pair have been working together closely and have made progress on a number of issues.

“She’s only been in her job for a short time but we’ve collaborated on a number of things that have reduced tension and accomplished things I didn’t think possible.”

“It does bode well for the future when the U.S. ambassador to Canada and Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. can find so many common interests,” he added, joking that he cannot work on “anything serious” after drinking bourbon with Craft’s husband, Joe.

Craft was also complimentary of MacNaughton. She said one of the “wonderful” aspects of her job has been getting to know and working with her Canadian counterpart.

“He’s willing to try new things, like learning to share our love for Kentucky bourbon,” she said.

Craft also poked fun at the fact that U.S. President Donald Trump continues to threaten to tear up the deal.

“When President Trump asked me to consider serving as U.S. ambassador to Canada, he promised this would be ‘very interesting’ and ‘very, very important,'” Craft said. “But I don’t really need him to continually say ‘tear up NAFTA’ to keep it interesting. A little bit of boring would have been just fine for me.”

On energy projects, MacNaughton said more work needs to be done to get community acceptance for pipelines and major infrastructure. He asserted that progress on such projects is hurt by an opposition that can mobilize quickly on social media and that “is not burdened by telling the truth.”

“I think one of the things we can do in Canada, the U.S., and with Mexico, is look at how can we do these projects in a modern, sensitive way — not just in terms of the economics of it, but also to deal with those who are affected … whether it be landholders, whether it’s Indigenous peoples, whether it be environmentalists and the like,” he told the crowd of energy executives.

“I don’t think that needs to delay projects. I think, in fact, if you do it right up front it will actually speed the approval and make it more certain.”

MacNaughton concluded his remarks by stressing the economic benefit of trade between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.